Minneapolis Monarch Festival: Next stop, Mexico.

A few years ago there was this spot on my dog-walking route where about 800 monarchs would be resting on flowers, then flutter their wings in an explosion of color as soon as I walked by. Sadly, these days, my monarch sightings are few and far between. All the more reason to get to the Monarch Festival this weekend.

Yes, there will be monarchs. But there will also be lots of kid-friendly fun, like printing with a steamroller, printing with plants and Art in the Park with MIA. There will be live music, dance performances and yummy food. Plus, Kids Butterfly Fun Runs ($7, includes t-shirt while supplies last) for ages up to 12 with prizes for best monarch costume. And here’s the really cool part: Monarchs raised by the U of M’s Monarch Lab and by local citizens will be released (singly) throughout the day to begin their 2,3000 mile migration to winter in the mountains of Michoacan Mexico. (Go to the Monarch Education tent for a few instructions, and you could be one of the releasers and get word if your monarch is ever found along the migration route.) Get the complete list of activities right here.

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About Amy Hernandez

Amy Hernandez may not know a lot about land use and transportation issues, but she does know a few cool things to do with kids in the Twin Cities. A freelance copywriter, she lives in Northeast Minneapolis with one amazing boy, a saintly husband, and a hyperactive Border Collie mix named Chewie.

i saw a talk by a butterfly researcher a few years back about how climate change was affecting their winter grounds (mountains in MX) and how very sensitive butterflies are to changes in moisture / frost events. scary! they’re so cool, esp how the multiple generations migrate north and south.